Disappearing chair



June 3, 1941, E. E. ELDER DISAPPEARING CHAIR Filed June 29, 1939 INVENFOR Elder Elige/7e- BY gn/ZM Patented June 3, 1941 UNTED ST nrslirrlisimio. CHAIR Eugene E. Elder, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Mildred H. England, Hollywood, Calif.

Claims.

lMy invention relates to disappearing chairs for tables, counters, bars, desks, and the like.

An important object oi the inventio-n is to provide guide means for directing movement of the chairs to and from a disappeared position.

Still another object relates to providing a track for such chairs which will direct movements of the chairs to and from a disappeared position.

The invention also comprises no-vel details of construe-tion and novel combinations and arrangements of. parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

`In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical section oi an embodimen of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-.2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1, except that it shows a modified construction.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

' VFigure 5 is a reduced plan View of either ernbodiment shown in the other gures in the drawing.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference numeral 6 designates a table that is provided with a center pedestal 7. While the table is shown in the drawing as round, it is to be understood that tables of other shapes may also be used. Moreover, the present invention is applicable to desks, counters, bars, and the like.

A base member 8 or 9 may be used to support the pedestal. In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, the base member 8 terminates in flexible ends IU and I2. These flexible ends may be slats I3 hinged together with the pintles I4 at the upper surface of the base member, when the slats are alined in a horizontal plane. The slats I3 may be flexibly connected by any other suitable means.

Chairs I5 and I6 are arranged at opposite sides of the table Ii and arranged to roll under the table. These chairs contain vertical slots I1 and rollers I8 and I9 mounted on axles 23 and 24 on brackets and 2| respectively on braces Il of the chairs. Cushions 22 may be applied to the chairs.

In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, the base member 9 terminates in ends 25 and 26, hinged to the base member at 2l and 28 respectively. Chairs 29 and 3U are arranged at opposite sides of the table and arranged to roll under same.

The chairs 29 and 30 have relatively station-V ary, downwardly and forwardly curved slides 3I and 32. The slides have lower end abutments 33. Lugs 3i on the ends 25, 26 support rods 35, which slide laterally up and down the slides 3|,

Bearings 36 and 31 support front and rear rollers Aor wheels 38 and 3-9 respectively. Y

It will Abe noticed that the flexible ends ll, I2., in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, `extend substantially from one sid'e lil to the other of the chair, so as to reduce to a minimum side play between the chair I5 and its guide. In the form shown in Figures 3 and 4, the hinged ends 25, 26 extend substantially from one wheel 3B to the other and substantially from one side 4I to the other of the chair 3i), to guide the in-and-out movements of the chair. The sides 4E), Il -act as legs for the chairs.

The termini of. the eXible ends Ill, l2V carry rods 45, which slide in opposed grooves i6 in the inner faces of the sides Iii). The ends of the grooves 46 limit lateral movement of the krods and thereby limit inward and 'outward movement of the chairs `I5 and I6.

The use of the present invention Vis believed clear. The chairs when not in use may be moved to an out-oi-the-way position under ther table, desk, counter, bar, etc. The guides I0 and I2 in Figures 1 and 2 and the guides 25 and 26 in Figures 3 and 4 direct the movements.

When the chairs 29, 3i! are in their inward positions, the hingedguide-ends are upright, as

' shown under the chair 29 in Figure 3. The rod 35 is at the top of the slides in this position. As the chairs 29, 39 are moved outward from the table, the rod 35 slides laterally down the slides until it is stopped by the abutments 33 at the foot of the slides. At this time, the hinged ends 26 are lying horizontal. Inward movement of the chairs 29, 3U causes the rod 35 to ride up the slides.

The chairs I5 and I6 show different positions of the same form of the invention, and chairs 29 and 30 show different positions of another form of the inventionl It is to be understood that in the hereunto appended.- claims the word table shall also be taken to include desk, counter, bar and the like.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my inventiomthe construction is, of course, subject to modications without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, a table, a chair having legs supporting the same, and a guide in movable connection with, and in lateral relation to, the table, between the legs of the chair extending toward the table, the said guide extending substantially from side to side of the chair in slidable relation therewith and being vertically shiitable within the chair as the latter is moved to and from the table in the path defined by the guide.

2. In combination, a table, a chair movable to and from the table, a guide in movable connection with, and in lateral relation to, the table, and slidable in connection with the chair for directing movement of the chair in a path to and from the table, the guide being flexible in aY moved toward the table.

4. In combination, a table, a chair movable to and from the table, a guide for the chair extending laterally from the table outward to dene a path of movement of the chair, and comprising a series of slats flexibly connected together, and means to flex said guide and direct the slats into the chair, when the chair is moved toward the table.

5. A chair movable on a supporting surface and having a slot, and a laterally extending guide on laterally extending movably connected guide on said supporting surface extending beneath the chair, said guide being vertically shiftable with respect to the supporting surface and within the chair, and means within the chair to cause the said guide to shift vertically within the chair as the chair is moved lengthwise of the guide.

7. A chair, rollers for said chair at the sides thereof for movement on a supporting surface, a lateral guide movably connected to said supporting surface and extending within the chair from one side roller to the other, said guide being flexible in a Vertical direction, and slide means within the chair in connection with said guide for iiexing the latter vertically as the chair is moved lengthwise of the guide.

8. In combination, a table, a chair movable to and from the table, sides on the chair, curved slides extending upwardly on the inner sides of the chair, a guide extending laterally from the table and within the chair substantially from side to side of the chair, said guide having a hinged connection with the support for the table on which it is swingable vertically in the chair, and a rod connected with the hinged guide and disposed to ride up the slides when the chair is moved toward the table.

9. In combination, a table, a chair movable to and from the table, a movable guide for the chair extending laterally from the table outward to denne a path ofmovement of the chair, and means to shift the guide vertically and progressively within the chair as the chair is moved toward the table.

l0. In combination: a tableto be supported by a floor, a chair movable with respect to the table to and from a position substantially under the table, and a guide movably connected to the table support arranged to rest on the floor and to extend outward laterally with regard to the table, the chair having a sliding connection with the guide to direct said movements of the chair, and means to shift the guide vertically within the chair during movements of the chair in guided relation toward and away from the table.

` EUGENE E. ELDER. 

